Phoenix—a new mezzanine-level lounge open Tuesday through Saturday inside The Wit hotel—hasn’t reached the same stratospheric popularity as Roof, its older sibling that launched on the hotel’s 27th floor last year. And without Roof’s skyline views and open-air vibe, it’s probably not going to. But remember last summer, when you were cursing your spot in line down on the sidewalk, waiting to be… - Page 2">

Weekend Photos: The Phoenix Lounge @ The Wit

So, the Phoenix—a new mezzanine-level lounge open Tuesday through Saturday inside The Wit hotel—hasn’t reached the same stratospheric popularity as Roof, its older sibling that launched on the hotel’s 27th floor last year. And without Roof’s skyline views and open-air vibe, it’s probably not going to. But remember last summer, when you were cursing your spot in line down on the sidewalk, waiting to be…

Published June 21, 2010

So, the Phoenix—a new mezzanine-level lounge open Tuesday through Saturday inside The Wit hotel—hasn’t reached the same stratospheric popularity as Roof, its older sibling that launched on the hotel’s 27th floor last year. And without Roof’s skyline views and open-air vibe, it’s probably not going to. But remember last summer, when you were cursing your spot in line down on the sidewalk, waiting to be ushered up to the city’s chicest indoor-outdoor bar and wishing like crazy you could have a drink in the meantime? Now you can—but a word of caution that diverting to the Phoenix forfeits your spot in line for Roof, for now at least. Our photographer stopped by on Friday and caught a few patrons clinking cocktails while a musician played quietly nearby. Browse our photos below, then revisit Roof and our other 99 picks for Chicago’s best bars.